For a study, it was determined that the development of various safe and efficient vaccinations to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection constituted a significant step forward in the resolution of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Vaccination of people on immunomodulators who have rheumatologic illnesses posed an extra problem since findings showed that some immunomodulators might affect vaccine effectiveness. An interprofessional group of researchers conducted a quality improvement project at large for a study, predominantly rural Midwestern Veterans Affairs rheumatology clinic to develop a COVID-19 vaccine readiness kit, which included patient education materials and a readiness questionnaire to help guide veterans decision-making. The researchers identified consumer values, requirements, and obstacles to involvement using a Lean Six Sigma technique and the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) framework. Over a 28-day period, return rates and questionnaire replies were monitored.
About 199 veterans were selected and mailed kits; 129 (73%) completed the questionnaire within 28 days. 97% chose to keep immunomodulators after receiving at least one dose of the vaccine; 3.1% were not interested in immunization. Veterans expressed satisfaction with the process’s simplicity, material comprehension, and communication clarity. The Lean Six Sigma methodology, which focused on systematically assessing the values, needs, and barriers of veterans on immunomodulators, was important to high veteran involvement rates. The strategy was cost-effective for low-resource settings, audiences that did not have access to or were unfamiliar with digital material, and rural locations separated by huge geographical distances.
